Electric heating is the process of converting electric energy into heat energy. Common applications include space heating, cooking, water heating, and industrial processes. Electric heater is an electrical equipment that converts current into heat. The heating element in each electric heater is a resistance, and works according to the principle of Joule heating: the current flowing through the resistance will convert electric energy into heat energy. Most modern electric heating equipments use nickel chromium alloy wire as active element. The heating element (shown on the right) uses nickel chromium alloy wire supported by ceramic insulator.

Instead, the heat pump uses an electric motor to drive a refrigeration cycle that absorbs heat from a source such as ground or external air and directs the heat into the space to be heated. Some systems can be reversed so that the internal space is cooled, while hot air is discharged outdoors or underground.

The heating element used for electric radiation heating will reach high temperature. The element is usually packaged in a glass housing similar to a bulb and has a reflector to direct the energy output away from the body of the heater. The infrared radiation emitted by the element propagates in the air or space until it reaches the absorption surface, and then partially converts into heat and partially reflects on the absorption surface. This heat directly heats people and objects in the room, not the air. This type of heater is particularly useful in areas where unheated air flows. They are also ideal for basements and garages that require local heating. In general, they are a great choice for task specific heating.

The radiant heater operates quietly, and because of its concentrated output strength and lack of overheat protection, there is the greatest potential danger of ignition of nearby furniture. In the UK, these devices are sometimes called electric fires because they were originally used to replace open fires.

The active medium of the heater described in this section is a roll of nichrome resistance wire in a fused quartz tube, the end of which is open to the atmosphere, although there is a model in which the fused quartz is sealed at the end and the resistance alloy is not nichrome.

In a convection heater, the heating element heats the air in contact with it through heat conduction. Hot air has a lower density than cold air, so it rises due to buoyancy, allowing more cold air to flow in instead of its position. This sets the convection of hot air rising from the heater, heating the surrounding space, cooling, and then cycling. These heaters are sometimes full of oil. They are ideal for heating enclosed spaces. Compared with radiant electric heaters, if they come into unintentional contact with furniture, they will operate silently and have a lower risk of ignition.

The heating cable is embedded in the floor of the underfloor electric heating system. Current flows through a conductive heating material, which can be supplied directly by a line voltage (120 or 240 volts) or by a transformer at a low voltage. The heated cables heat the floor by direct conduction, and once they reach the temperature set by the floor thermostat, they close. The hotter floor surfaces radiate heat to the cooler surrounding surfaces (ceilings, walls, furniture), which absorb heat and reflect all unabsorbed heat to other still cooler surfaces. The periods of radiation, absorption, and reflection start slowly near the set point temperature and slow decrease, and stop once the full equilibrium is reached. Floor thermostat or room thermostat or combination controls the on / off of the floor. During radiation heating, a thin layer of air in contact with a warming surface also absorbs some heat, which creates a little convection (air circulation). Contrary to belief, people are not heated by this warm circulating air or convection (convection has cooling effect), but by the direct radiation of the source and the reflection of the surrounding environment. Due to the elimination of circulating air, comfort can be achieved at a lower air temperature. Because people's own energy (adults must be ± 70 watts) (must be emitted in the heating season) is in balance with the surrounding environment, the comfort of radiation heating is the highest. Compared with the convection heating system based on academic research, the air temperature can be reduced by up to 3 degrees. One change is to use a tube filled with circulating hot water as the heat source for heating the floor. The heating principle remains unchanged. The old electric and hot water (hydraulic) floor heating systems embedded in the floor structure are slow to respond to external weather changes or internal needs / lifestyle requirements. The latest variant places dedicated electric heating systems and blankets directly under the floor finishes and on top of additional insulation, all of which is placed on top of the building floor. Keep the construction floor cold. The principle of heat source location changes so that it can respond to changing weather and internal requirements within minutes, such as in / out lifestyle, work, rest, sleep, more people present / cooking, etc.